Adele released her second studio album, 21, in 2011. It became the world's best-selling album of the 21st century, with sales of over 31 million copies. It was certified 17× platinum in the UK (the highest by a solo artist of all time) and Diamond in the US. According to Billboard, 21 is the top-performing album in the US chart history, topping the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks (the longest for a female artist ever). She was the first female artist in the history of the Billboard Hot 100 to have three simultaneous top-ten singles as a lead artist, with "Rolling in the Deep", "Someone Like You" and "Set Fire to the Rain", all of which also topped the chart. The album received a record-tying six Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and the Brit Award for British Album of the Year. The success of 21 earned Adele numerous mentions in the Guinness Book of Records.
In 2012, Adele released "Skyfall", a soundtrack single for the James Bond film of the same name, which won the Academy Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Her third studio album, 25, was released in 2015 and became the year's best-selling album and broke first-week sales records in the UK and US. 25 was her second album to be certified Diamond in the US and earned her five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and four Brit Awards, including British Album of the Year. The lead single, "Hello", became the first song in the US to sell over one million digital copies within a week of its release. Her fourth studio album 30, which contains the chart-topping single "Easy on Me", was released in 2021 and became the year's best-selling album worldwide including US and UK. 30 won the 2022 Brit Award for British Album of the Year.
Adele is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with sales of over 120 million records. Her accolades include fifteen Grammy Awards and twelve Brit Awards. In 2011, 2012, and 2016, Billboard named her Artist of the Year. At the 2012 and 2016 Ivor Novello Awards, Adele was named Songwriter of the Year by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. In 2012, she was listed at number five on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music. Time magazine named her one of the most influential people in the world in 2012, 2016, and 2022. She was appointed a MBE at the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for services to music. Her third tour saw her break attendance records globally, including in the UK, Australia, and the US, and her album 21 has been listed in Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time (2020).
Skyfall
Adele Lyrics
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Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the Earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again
For this is the end
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
So overdue, I owe them
Swept away, I'm stolen
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together
At Skyfall
At Skyfall
Skyfall is where we start
A thousand miles and poles apart
Where worlds collide and days are dark
You may have my number, you can take my name
But you'll never have my heart
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
At Skyfall
(Let the sky fall)
(When it crumbles)
(We will stand tall)
(Let the sky fall)
(When it crumbles)
(We will stand tall)
Where you go, I go
What you see, I see
I know I'd never be me
Without the security
Of your loving arms
Keeping me from harm
Put your hand in my hand
And we'll stand
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
Let the sky fall (let the sky fall)
When it crumbles (when it crumbles)
We will stand tall (we will stand tall)
Face it all together
At Skyfall
Let the sky fall
We will stand tall
At Skyfall
Ooh
The lyrics to Adele's song "Skyfall" were written for the James Bond movie of the same name. The opening lines of the song urge the listener to "hold your breath and count to ten" while "feeling the Earth move." This creates a sense of tension, as though something significant is about to happen. Adele then sings about "drowning" and "dreaming" of a moment that is "so overdue" and makes her feel "swept away" and "stolen." This could be interpreted as a reference to Bond himself, or to another character in the movie.
Next, Adele sings the chorus, which urges listeners to "let the sky fall" and "face it all together" when things start to crumble. This is a reflection of the James Bond ethos, where even when things seem insurmountable, Bond knows he can always "stand tall" and face danger head-on. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the power of unity and togetherness in difficult times.
In the third verse, Adele sings about "Skyfall" as a place where "worlds collide and days are dark." This could be interpreted as a metaphor for the situations Bond finds himself in while on his various missions. When she sings, "You may have my number, you can take my name, but you'll never have my heart," it's clear that Adele is singing from the perspective of a woman who is in love with someone who is always in danger. The final chorus and outro reiterate the importance of standing together and being able to weather any storm.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the end
The singer is acknowledging that something is coming to a close.
Hold your breath and count to ten
The singer is advising the listener to brace themselves for what's to come.
Feel the Earth move and then
The singer is conveying that what's coming will be truly impactful.
Hear my heart burst again
The artist is expressing their emotions at this moment - they're overwhelmed.
For this is the end
Reiterating that something important is coming to a close.
I've drowned and dreamt this moment
The singer has been lost in this moment for a while, and has even dreamt about it.
So overdue, I owe them
The singer feels that this moment was long overdue and others are owed for it.
Swept away, I'm stolen
The artist feels like they've been taken away and are powerless.
Let the sky fall
The artist is acknowledging that there's nothing they can do to stop what's coming.
When it crumbles
Referring to the previous line- when everything falls apart.
We will stand tall
The singer is confident they'll get through this.
Face it all together
The artist is emphasizing the importance of facing tough times with others.
At Skyfall
Referencing a specific place - potentially the source of the upheaval.
Skyfall is where we start
Reiterating that Skyfall is significant - potentially as a starting point or the root of the problem.
A thousand miles and poles apart
The situation is very far apart or distant from where they are now.
Where worlds collide and days are dark
This new place is where reality has been upended and things are difficult.
You may have my number, you can take my name
The artist's identity can be taken - but not their emotional core.
But you'll never have my heart
Their emotional core is what makes the singer unique - it cannot be taken from them.
Where you go, I go
The singer is committed to accompanying the listener wherever they go.
What you see, I see
The artist is committed to experiencing everything with the listener.
I know I'd never be me
They're acknowledging that the listener is integral to who they are.
Without the security
The safety and stability provided by the listener is essential.
Of your loving arms
This safety and security is provided through the listener's love.
Keeping me from harm
The safety and security the listener provides protect them from harm.
Put your hand in my hand
The singer is inviting the listener to unite with them.
And we'll stand
Together, they'll stand to face whatever comes next.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Adele Laurie Blue Adkins, Paul Richard Epworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
I remember this song from when it came out and it's absolutely great.